On September 17, 2012, EPA entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with Walter Coke, Inc., which became effective on September 24, 2012. The company owns and operates an industrial coke operation in North Birmingham, Ala. that produces foundry and furnace coke and coke by-products. The AOC requires Walter Coke to finalize RCRA Corrective Measures Studies and implement EPA approved remedies at the facility. The 400-acre property has been in operation for over 90 years. The Walter Coke agreement is part of EPA’s coordinated approach, known as the North Birmingham Environmental Collaboration Project, to evaluate the environmental condition and potential environmental impacts in the area.

The AOC outlines a phased approach to implement remedies at approximately 50 specific areas at the facility within the following five broad areas:

• coke manufacturing facility,
• former chemical plant,
• former pig iron foundry,
• land disposal area, and
• wastewater treatment area.

The agreement contains schedules with targeted deliverables and due dates. EPA estimates that over 38.5 million cubic yards of contaminated media (mostly groundwater) will be addressed under the agreement. The Agency will ensure meaningful community involvement during key cleanup milestones (e.g., initiating public notices when cleanup actions are proposed).

More information on the cleanup associated with the Walter Coke facility is available on the Agency's North Birmingham Environmental Collaboration Project website.

For more information contact:

Meredith Anderson
Environmental Engineer
RCRA Corrective Action Section
RCRA and Underground Storage Tank Branch, RCRA Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-562-8608
anderson.meredith@epa.gov